Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe speaks before a rousing crowd that welcomed her during a campaign sortie in Muntinlupa City Monday night, April 19, 2016.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Senator Grace Poe hit her rivals on Thursday, saying the choices for President should not be limited among insensitive, corrupt and “berdugo” (executioner) candidates.
In a hastily called press conference in Makati City, Poe strongly denied speculation that she would withdraw from the May 9 presidential race.
READ: Rebutting Roxas’ claim, spokesman says Poe ‘not yet out of the game’
“Mga kababayan, patuloy pa rin ang aking pag-aapela sa inyo sapagkat hindi naman yata tama na ang pagpipilian lang natin ay isang palpak, walang pakiramdam, at mabagal na gobyerno o isang gobyerno na corrupt o ang isang gobyerno na berdugo ang nagpapatakbo,” she said.
(My fellow countrymen, I continue to appeal to you because I don’t think it would be appropriate to limit our choices among inefficient and insensitive government, corrupt government or a government headed by an executioner.)
“Mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga nanay, lalo na sa mga tatay na iniisip ang kinabukasan ng kanilang mga anak, pag-aralan po nating mabuti ang mga ibinibigay sa ating opsyon ng mga tumatakbo. Ang isang berdugong tinatakot tayo o ang isang gobyerno na kinakatakutan natin ay hindi po maaaring magbigay sa atin ng ating pinapangarap.”
(My fellow countrymen, especially to the mothers and fathers who think of their children’s future, let us consider carefully the options presented by the candidates. An executioner who scares us or a government we fear couldn’t give us our dreams.)
“Para po itong gamot na mas lalong makakasama sa atin, na mas lalong makakasama kaysa sa ating karamdaman. Ang ibig sabihin po ng ‘berdugo’ ay isang taong nakatakip ang mukha, na hindi natin talaga kilala pero ang binibiktima ay ang sarili nating mga kababayan. Ito ay binibigti nila at mas lalong ginigipit,” Poe added.
(It is like a medicine which will harm us more and more dangerous to our health. An “executioner” means someone whose face is masked, someone whom we don’t really know but one who victimizes our own countrymen. They hang their victims and prey on them.)
The senator did not name names, saying the people already knew whom she was referring to.
What is more alarming than having an incompetent government, Poe said, is to have a dictator leader and a government where people would live in fear.
“Kaya sa mga iba diyan na nagsasabi na dapat ay pagbigyan na lang ang iba para dalawa na lang ang naglalaban, sino ba sila para magsabi kung sino ang dapat pipiliin ng ating mga kababayan?”
(That’s why to those who say others should give way so that the fight would only be between 2 contenders, who are they to claim whom our countrymen would choose?)
“Hindi po tayo sindikato na makikipag-ayusan kahit kanino para mawalan ng opsyon ang ating mga kababayan. Hindi po ito isang transaksyon para ibenta ang pangarap ng ating mga kababayan,” she added.
(I’m not part of a syndicate who will negotiate with anyone so our countrymen would lose their options. This is not a transaction to sell our countrymen’s dreams.)
The senator was apparently referring to former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s statement that the presidential race is now down between him and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Roxas: Fight is now between Duterte and I
Poe said she would not give up, reiterating that the choices should not be limited to only three options.
“Inuulit ko, ang ating pagpili ay hindi dapat limitado sa isang gobyernong walang pakiramdam, sa isang gobyernong corrupt, o sa isang gobyernong berdugo dahil tayo ay mas merong malayang pumili kung sino ang nararapat para sa ating bayan,” she said.
(I repeat, our choices should not be limited among inefficient and insensitive government, corrupt government or or a government headed by an executioner because we have more freedom to choose whom our country deserves.)
“Mga kababayan, ang hinahanap natin ngayon ay isang lider na masasandalan, na makakapagbigay sa atin ng inspirasyon, na maiaahon tayo sa kahirapan. Hindi po iisa lamang ang problema ng ating bayan. Gusto natin ligtas tayo, pero higit sa lahat, gusto natin na ang ating pamilya ay masagana; na ang ating pamilya ay nabibigyan natin ng pangangailangan nito; at higit sa lahat, gusto natin ng isang gobyernong ikararangal natin.” RAM
(My fellow countrymen, we are looking for a dependable leader, someone who will serves as an inspiration, one who could lift us from poverty. Our country faces not just a single problem. We want to be safe, but most of all, we want our families to be prosperous; that we can provide for our family; and most importantly, we want a government we can be proud of.)
RAM /rga
